Following on from WYSIWYG's Moral/ethical thread. Kind of go me thinking.

Here I am, 26, armed with a Guitar, a lot of books and the complete recorded works of Martin Carthy. (Can also play other instruments) I play in a load of bands, but I'm trying to put together my "Solo Performance". Effectively, I want MC's job. This is a bloody stupid thing for a young man to want to devote his life to, but there you go. In many ways I am as thick as pigshit and stubborn as a mule.

Issues that are bothering me: Immitation=sincerest form of flattery and all that, but I do English Trad in a style based heavily on Sir Martin of Carthy OBE EPNS CGCDAB and Bar (28th fret). Don't want to become a clone. O.K. my style is subtly different, (tuningwise, I don't use a thumbpick etc) but it's currently too close. Especialy given that I'm researching the same area of music. How do I resolve this?

Repetoire? Unlike M.C. I tend to be narrowly "English" about what I play, simply because lots of people are serving other British traditions. Should I try to incorporate other cultures into the act? England is a melting pot in many ways. Or, should I stick to preserving English Trad. as a historical form? If it comes to that is this music fixed or mutable? If I muck about the words/tunes/arrangements am I affecting the fossil record? Opinions deperately needed, as head is about to explode (implode? probably more likely)

Performance:

What makes an enjoyable performer? I think that folk gigs should be fun, informative (or at least informed, not didactic) and as a performer, I think I need to be able to relate to the audience? Or do you prefer to see singers more remote/theatrical? Do you like long lectures on precise origins of songs, or should that sort of thing be reserved for sleevenotes?

Many many thanks for reading this waffle. All feedback would be appreciated, as I'm trying to get some sort of audience profile together. Also, I'm O.k. as a musician, but I suspect that I'm a lousy performer at the moment!

Many, many thanks,

Jon